An ideal tankmate?

[Spankenstyne]

I think i can probably handle one more loach in my "active" community tank but i wanted some input on what direction (if any) i should go. Currently i have a 75 gal (47" x 16" x 24") that's housing 4 Botia Dario, 11 "mossy" Tiger Barbs, 1 RTS, 1 bristle-nosed pleco, 4 Ottos. When i've checked nitrate levels before my pwc it's been sitting around 10ppm so i should easily be able to handle the bio-load.

Now ideally i'd like to get another Queeny but they seem completely unavailable locally, i haven't seen any anywhere here in probably 9 months. I have noticed that the 4 have seemed a little more shy & reclusive than they were at 5 so i have been contemplating adding say a Yoyo but wonder if something quite a bit smaller atm & of a different species might not be a good idea? Part of me says if it ain't broke don't fix it but ideally i'd like the loaches out and about a little more.

Any thoughts?

[Graeme Robson]

I think you pretty much know our answer. Adding a lone Botia almorhae is unfair. I would hold off until you find another Botia dario.

[Spankenstyne]

Yeah I'm going to wait.

[Spankenstyne]

I do wonder if something more "dithery" lol if that's a word, that could deal with the barbs might be a better option? The barbs tend to spend most of the time in the mid-lower half of the tank.

[Spankenstyne]

Let me rephrase that...

Perhaps i might be better off just keeping them at 4 and getting some smaller dither fish that can deal with the Barbs without getting eaten?
I know odd numbers are usually ideal but maybe a little more going on up top will bring them out more?